Expanding attachment for watch bands



J1me 1961 LORENZO-ANTONIO DE MORELOS 2,986,795

EXPANDING ATTACHMENT FOR WATCH BANDS Filed Nov. 3. 1959 m R E MR W E mum N 0 T N m N E R O L United States Patent 2,986,795 EXPANDINGATTACHMENT FOR WATCH BANDS Lorenzo-Antonio de Morelos, Palais de laScala, Monte Carlo, Monaco Filed Nov. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 850,672 3Claims. (Cl. 24265) This invention relates in general to means forfastening a wrist band to a wrist watch, and more particularly to anelement suited for use with a one piece non-elastic and non-expansibleband which incorporates means for allowing the watch band to be passedover the hand of the wearer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a structure which may beused in conjunction with non-expansible watch bands and which normallytends to reduce the watch band circumference to a minimum but may serveto provide the necessary extra band material when the watch is to bepassed over the hand of the wearer.

It is another object of this invention to provide an attachment for usewith leather and other non-expansible watch bands which eliminates thenecessity for two separate lengths joined by the conventional buckle andtongue.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an expansibleattachment for use with leather and fabric watch bands which contributesto such watch bands the characteristic of elasticity, providing for theautomatic setting of the watch band size to accommodate varying sizes ofwrists.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a Wrist watch and bandincorporating the structure of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the exterior housing forming a part ofthis structure;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the internal telescoping elementforming a portion of the structure of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view showing the two telescoping membersin a unitary relationship;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view showing the telescoping members in aunitary relationship and showing the position of the spring within;

FIGURE 6 is a plan View of the clip used to secure the band to theexpansible element of this invention;

FIGURE 7 shows a preferred manner of assembling the watch band and thetelescoping member of FIGURE 3 using the clip of FIGURE 6.

Generally, this invention incorporates means for securing anon-expansible watch band to one lateral edge of a wrist watch casing(preferably to both lateral edges) and comprises a member havingtelescoping parts which is readily secured at one end to the pin alongthe lateral edge of a Watch and at the opposite end to a wrist watchband, especially a leather, metal or non-elastic fabric band. Theexterior housing of the telescopic unit has a supporting member at oneend which is directly attached to the watch casing about theaforementioned pin. Extending outwardly from the support are a pair ofinturned, parallel, U-shaped tracks. The internal element of thetelescopic unit is of suflicient width to bridge the gap between thetracks and ride relatively freely therein. The element is a generallyhollow body having open sides and an open middle and having a backmember of an appropriate Width to fit between the flanges of theU-shaped members. Extending outwardly from the back member is means forsecuring thereto a watch band of conventional leather or fabric. A pinextends across the space between the tracks at the end thereof oppositeand farthest removed from the track support, the pin providing anabuttment which prevents the telescoping elements from being pulledapart. Positioned between the pin and the back member is a resilientelement such as a piece of sponge rubber or a coil spring which urgesthe elements into a telescoped position and resists extension of theinternal element beyond the housing end.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters refer to likeparts throughout, there is seen in FIGURE 1 a wrist watch case 10 havingflange-mounted pins 12 providing means for securing a conventional strapthereto. The non-expansible strap 14 is a unitary structure lacking theconventional buckle and tongue, and has secured at the opposite endsthereof the elements of this invention, generally 16, which providemeans for securing the wrist band to the lateral edge or edges of thewatch case. The means for attaching the non-elastic band to the casecomprises a support 18 of about the same width as pin 12. A hook 20 runsthe entire width of the support, and is easily crimped about a pin 12.

Other convenient (and conventional) means may be substituted for hook20. Extending outwardly from the support 18 are elements 22, which,viewed from an end as in FIGURE 4, are generally U-shaped and henceprovide tracks within which the telescoping inner member 24 rides. Thistelescoping element has a back 26 of sufficient depth to ride freelywithin the tracks of extensions 22. Secured to the back 26 is theoutwardly extending, curved base plate 28, having a slot 30 at the farend thereof. Also secured at right angles to the back 26 is the topplate 32, preferably having an integral, downwardly extending frontflange 34. Member 24 thus constitutes a unit having open sides and ahollow middle. During assembly, the hollow member 24 is slid partiallyinto place, spring 40 forced into the far end of the hollow memberabutting the back plate 26, and pin 42 is forced into place throughholes 23 so as to hold the spring where intended. Hence, when thehollow, inner telescoping member is pulled out from the housing, asshown in FIGURE 5, the spring is compressed and the spring resists suchmovement.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show a convenient means for securing the one pieceleather or fabric strap 14 to the expansible element 16. The clip 50consists of a main body portion having a pair of notches 52 along eitherlongitudinal edge thereof and a pair of ears 54 at the opposite endthereof. The main body portion of the clip is passed through slot 30,ears 54 are passed through suitable holes in the leather, as shown inFIGURE 6, the main body portion of the clip is folded down upon theleather and the ears are crimped over upon one another so that they areretained in place by slots 52. The clip may also be used to secure amedallion and other ornamentation to the wrist band, if desired.

The described means for securing the leather or fabric wrist band to theexpansible structure 16 of this invention is obviously only onealternative, and various other attaching means may be used.

Also, while it is preferred that two separate expansible elements 16 beprovided, one on either side of the watch case, it would obviously bepossible to use a conventional means of securing a leather wrist band toone side of the watch case, with the expansible element of thisinvention being used on the other side only.

Obviously, many modifications and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention, and thereforeonly such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. Means for securing a watch band to one lateral edge of a wrist watchcase comprising: a member having means at one end thereof for securingsaid member to the said wrist band, and means at the other end thereoffor securing the said member to the said lateral edge of the wrist watchcase, said member including spaced parallel, inturned tracks extendingoutwardly from a support therefor, said support being normally adjacentthe watch case and secured thereto; a sliding element of sufiicientwidth to bridge the space between said inturned tracks and slide freelytherein, said sliding element being a generally hollow body having opensides and an open middle, and having a back member bridging the spacebetween the said tracks; means on that end of said sliding elementfarthest removed from said back for attaching said sliding element to awatch band; a pin extending between said tracks at the end thereofopposite the support therefor; and a resilient member mounted withinsaid hollow sliding element between said back of said sliding elementand said pin, said resilient member tending to maintain the said pin andthe said back of said sliding element in a distantly-spacedrelationship.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the resilient member is a coilspring.

3 The structure of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching said elementto the said watch band comprises a plate extending from said backmember, said plate having a slot therein and a clip for registry withsaid slot, said clip having a pair of cars on one end thereof forpassing through holes in the said watch band, and means integral withthe said clip for anchoring the said ears in a folded position, saidband and said attaching means being so assembled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

